Reinforced concrete structure



A. G. RUSSELL 2,334,355

REINFORCED CONCRETE STRUCTURE' l Filed Feb. 1'7, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet l@Wwmmmwwwmwmmmm u MME. .QN

Nov. 16, 1943.

Nov. 16, 1943. A. G. RUSSELL REINFORCED CONCRETE STRUCTURE Filed Feb,17, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 16, 1943. A. G. RUSSELL REINFORCEDCONCRETE STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 17, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 'Afrox/vPatented Nov. 16, 1943 UNITED s'rArEs PA'rENi-fA VoFrlcE rREMORGEDCONCRETESTRUCTURE Arthur Gerald Russell, FoleshillgCoventry,England Application February 17, 1941. serial No. 379,327

In Great Britain February 21, 1940 Y v` 11 Claims.

This invention is for improvements in or relating to reinforced concretestructures of latticelike or triangulated form, in thevnature of trussesand girders. Structures of this nature are usually made of steel anddiftlcultieslie in the way of their manufacture from reinforcedconcrete. For example, if the usual manufacturing methods are applied totheir fabrication vin reinforced concrete, such structures would` becast in situ with the use of shuttering. This in itself would presentsubstantial difliculty owing to the complex nature of the shutteringrequired and the quantity of timber involved.

VThe present invention provides a lattice-like or triangulated structureof reinforced concrete;

characterised in that it is built up of a plurality of separate,preformed, reinforced concrete units or elements connectedtogether, toform the desired structure, inVsuch manner that some are adapted to takethe tensile stresses and others the compressive `stresses developed inthe resultant structure when loaded. As will readily be appreciated itis `possible so to arrange matters that atleast some of the elementsemployed 'in this structure are interchangeable.

For Yexample any given structure mayincorporate a very few dierent sizesof elements but a great number of elements of each size. These elementsmay therefore be made in large quantities at a manufacturing centrewhere the necessary skill and materials are available,and it Willbeappreciated that only a few simple moulds are necessary.

Preferably, atleast some of the preformed elements are transxedbycast-in tubes which receive bolts, rivets or equivalent members wherebya plurality of the elements areV connected together. Advantageously,longitudinal metal reinforcement in the elements maybe connected to saidcast-in tubes. The joints between the various elements lmay either berigid jointsor they may be pinnedjoints. l Y

`The invention also includes a method of building up a lattice-likeVortriangulated load-supporting structure of the nature 'referred to,which consists in the use of a plurality of elongated preformedreinforced ,concrete elements at least some of which are interchangeableoneV with `another, and securing `said `Y.elements `together by bolts orthe like `to form the desired structure in which some of the elementsare disposed to take the tensile and others the compressive stresses.

The foregoing and other features ofthe invention are incorporated in theexamples now to be described with reference to the' accompanyingdrawings,inwhich` t. 1 ,I n

Figures 1 and 2 are longitudinal sections at right angles toone anotherthrough a tensile unit or element; v.

Figure 3 is a sectionalview of one end of an element, illustrating amodication;

Figures 4 and5 are sections similar to Figs. 1 and '2 through acompression element;

AFigure 6 is a Vsectional elevation of a portion of a'roof trussaccording to this invention; I Figures 'l and 8, are fragmentary4sectionalelevational view`s,` on a larger scale,` of oneof the jointstherein; while A .i

Figure 9 is a. diagram illustrating a lattice grder of the N type,accordingto this invention. In the preferred construction `accordingtothis inventionthe units or elementsfl, Figs. 1 and 2, which are totake the tensilefsti'es'ses are-of the appropriate elongated (post-like)form and are reinforced by longitudinally-entending metal rods I I. Neareach end of such a tensile element, however. the lattice is transxed byat least one metal tube or sleeve l2 to which the longitudinalreinforcement VIl is connected. This connection is preferably achievedbybending the metalrod II around the sleeve I2. VThus two sleeves I2 atopposite ends of the elementY I0 are tied together by means of at leastone reinforcement rod II which is bent around them and extendsbetweenthem. This reinforcement is therefore Well placed to prevent theseparation of the tubes-I2 under a tensile load. There may be one tubeat one or each end, asshown, or a plurality of tubes. If, for example,there are two spaced tubes I2 at each end the reinforcement ll jconnectsthe two inner tubes together and also connects the two outer tubesvtogether, as illustrated* in Fig., 3.

In casting an element of'this form the tubes andthe reinforcement areset up in the appropriate positions in a mould, which serves as a jig toensure the correct spacing between the tubes, and the concrete isapplied inknown manner.

It will be understood that the use of the metal tubes I2 achieves threeobjects. The said tubes form a permanent connection between all thereinforcement members ll in the element (and, when said element isbolted toranother element, between said attached elements); they permitthe loops or bends `in the longitudinal reinforcement bars to beoflalarger diameter than would otherwise be the case; Aand they provideholes having a standard or predetermined sizefand location for xingpurposes. Y`Especially in the tension element, the reinforcementmembersV Il may be welded to the tubes" l2;v or their section tions, aswill be appreciated by one skilled in the* art. In the compressionmembers Z, following to a certain extent the principle adopted-inthe'construction of what are known K- as 1 fhingejoints in reinforcedconcrete Work, the rods II, are either crossed adjacent to the tubes I2(as is shown at the left hand end of'Fig; 4);',or are brought togetherand Welded (as is shown at the right hand end of Fig. 4). It will benoticed that the rods Il (Whichvmay be of` square section) areV loopedaround or substantially completely embrace the tubes' I2. i y` lj Inbuilding such units oli elements up in to the desired 'triangulatedstructure the joints arey made by the "useof steelj'shor gusset platesprovided with holes at 'the' appropriatefpositi'ons, andthe ends' of thevarious'lele'rnents tn atf'are to be connectedfat a :joint arer receivedbetween two such plates andsuitable boltsl 'jor rivets passed through.tlieholes vvin the plates vand through the tubesin the elements. o y

In thetriangulated roof truss shown inV Fig.V 6, there are' tensionelements, Illa, I Gb, 10c and Roof trusses according to this inventionmay be joined by longitudinal, triangulated girders ac- "I 3c, I 3d toform fish plates l3f, |39 for the girder.

It will of course be appreciated that in some VVstructures, certainelements may at one time be u under tension and at another time undercompression-according to the conditions of load.

It is Within the scope of the invention to pro- ,fyide a range ofelements of differing strengths but of the same dimensions, saiddiffering strengths being achieved by an adjustment of thereinforcement.

compressionoeleinents2la;26e, pin jointed top gether using fish `plates13a-IE6 anclj'bolts` Id trnsxng the tubes I2 and theflsh plates; Thejoint between elements 20d, 2band Midis illustrated in detail inFigs.7"and 8.v

Such roof trusses may be connected sirably but not necessarily ofasbestosy cement) l5.

Thesempurlins arefmadena like"l manner tothe Y y by'purlins 39, forminga support for the roof sheeting (deing preferably provide'dfor'thebolthead'slornuts at one face. They are 'bolted to bent-over por- -1 `tionsof f the fish plates, as vindicated by fit in 8. .1 L .1. It willbenoticed that'the ends ofthe elements -lins).v subjectl to;a bendingmovement,v to cause the reinforcement .rodslto convergeratthe ends, asshown in dotted lines `at.the rleft hand .'endof Naturally,"thexelements leb, lac, Ella-720e are duplicated inthe othen half of.thetr uss, which is thereforev not illustrated; ,A greater degreezofinterchangeabilityor identity among the elements may be obtained. Foregiamplecertain or all of membersior Zilmayloe.icicritifil-5f..;f;.` AIn aolatticey girder of the Nlyp.eFig. .9,the two horizontal members arebultilnfroma plurality 0f interchangeable elements I0! andl.. The up-'rightsilf .between ithem ,are likewise 1,nstitllted by interchangeableelements and *sovv are thedi- Yago'nals, and it Will.bewappreciatedmthatthe up.- rights 2Uv and'thetopghorizontal member are compressionniembfeis,'A and tle'diagonals 18" and 'the bottom hofiontalflnember:are tension memb-ers `In such 'a' "structurejalltheelements"formingthe"eompression'niembes maybe interchangeable, but twodifferentljleng'thspfttension elements fill', 'lfare necessarjfoneforthediagonals'and the other-for the bottomhorizont'al-memben thecornersof the triangles.Y

I claim: l. A triangulated lattice structure of reinforced concrete,comprising a plurality of separate preformed reinforced concreteelements connected Which elements are adapted to take the tensilestresses and others the compressive stresses de- 'veloped in theVresultant structure When loaded,

and connecting means connecting the elements together at the corners ofthe triangles.

.2. A Vtriangulated lattice structure, comprising elements forming thesides ofthe triangles and connected togetherat the corners .of thetriangles, each of Which elements is of reinforced concrete and has atleast one cast-in tube transxing itat each end,V and connecting meansfor connecting the ends of f the, elements together, which meansvcomprises metal members extendingthrough said tubes,

3,-A triangulated lattice structure,v comprising elements forming thesides of the triangles and connected together at thecorners of thetriangles, each?. of Which elements is of reinforced fccncrete and hasat least one cast-in tube transbers extending-through the tubes andVsecuring the plates to said elements. f

. 4. A- structure Vaccording to claim 2, wherein each' element has atleast one metal'v reinforcement rod extending longitudinally of it andbent around the tubes; i v y vr5. A triangulated lattice structure,comprising a plurality of separate preformed reinforcedlconcreteAelements pin jointed together to form-the sides of the triangles, andpin-jointing means for .formin'g'pin joints Vbetween the elements at6'.- AV built-up structurersubstantially wholly of reinforcedV concrete,comprising .a plurality-of elongated preformed reinforced! concrete"elements each vforming a sideof at least 'one' pluralsidedclosed figureVand .each .having 'ai cast-in `tube transiixing it ateachendi and.metal Greinreinforced .concrete elements, including "tension fielementsand compression eleme'nts disposed Seach' to form a side of at.leaston'eftliianglegeach of Which elements has at least'l :onefcas't-iniftub'e transxing it at each end and metal reinforcementconnecting the tubes at its opposite ends, wherein the reinforcement oneach compression element consists of metal rod bent around the tubes andextending as two laps between them which laps approach one anotherlocally adjacent to each tube, and means, including metal membersextending through the tubes, for connecting the elements together at thecorners of the triangles. v

8. A built-up triangulated structure, comprising a plurality of separateelongated elements each forming a side of at least one triangle, each ofwhich elements is of reinforced concrete, has a cast-in metal jointingmember transi'lxing it at each end, and has longitudinal metalreinforcement connecting the jointing members at its opposite ends, andconnecting members engaging said jointing members and connecting theelements together at the corners of the triangles.

9. A built-up structure substantially wholly of reinforced concrete,comprising a plurality of elongated preformed reinforced concreteelements, each forming a side of at least one pluralsided closed figureand each having a cast-in metal jointing member transxing it at each endand metal reinforcement members connecting the jointing members at itsopposite ends; and .connecting means at the corners of the gures eachengaging jointing members of a plurality of the elements and therebyconnecting said elements together.

10. A built-up structure substantially wholly of reinforced concrete,comprising a plurality of elongated preformed reinforced concreteelements disposed in angular relation one to another and each having acast-in metal tube transxing it at each end and metal reinforcementmembers extending within it and connecting the tubes at its oppositeends; gussets for connecting the ends of said elements in their angularrelation; and securing means extending through the tubes for securingthe gussets to the elements.

11.- A built-up structure substantially Wholly of reinforced concrete,comprising a plurality of elongated preformed reinforced concreteelements at least some of which are interchangeable, each having acast-in tube permanently transxing it at each end and metalreinforcement members extending within it and connecting the tubes atits opposite ends; and jointing means connecting ends of the elements inthe desired structure, which jointing means comprises spaced platemembers between which the ends of the elements are located and securingmeans extending through the plate members and through the tubes.

ARTHUR G; RUSSELL.

